Perspectives

The society held its AGM this evening at St Joseph's church in KensIngton. It's one of the groups which has brought together theologians and others who are enthusiastic about Ecumenism. Many have long memories of when there was a real hope of a united Protestant church in the UK and some of them were instrumental in trying to create it. Times have changed though and the society's membership has shrunk. Nevertheless it voted to continue under the chairmanship of Elizabeth Welch and to forge new links and look for new ways of working. I think one of the useful roles it may be able to explore is to connect gras roots experience with 'national' levels of theology. Because it is a voluntary group, perhaps it can achieve some things more informally working with some of the other more formal bodies to which people are appointed? Early days perhaps but there are possibilities and given the number of people who were there with Milton Keynes connections there could be the cha...

Churches Together in England (CTE) has several groups responsible for its functioning. The largest of these is the Enabling Group which meets three times a year and is made up largely of representatives of the many denominations which are members of CTE plus others. It is one of the places where the sometimes subtle and sometimes not so subtle differences between Christian traditions can be explored and new pathways of ecumenical working discussed and tested. On September 17th and 18th the group met in London and coincidentally it coincided with the visit of Pope Benedict. The agenda therefore included attendance at the service of evening prayer at Westminster Abbey led by both the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury (see previous posting). Although there is a tendency to feel that the agenda of a meeting such as this is dominated by 'large items' of ecumenism it is not the case. The agenda included agreeing the membership of CTE of the Free Church of England ( a small denom...

Photo Copyright: Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey. I walked to the Abbey from Victoria Station because of the crowds which gave a good chance to get a feel for the surrounding atmosphere and activity. Cars with blacked out windows and non-standard number plates were everywhere and police motor cyclists with sirens blaring raced in all directions. Nearer the Abbey the crowds grew thicker and banners saying 'Welcome to the Holy Father' jostled with those declaring 'No Popery'. A friendly woman with a pile of leaflets gave me one which outlined the errors of the Catholic faith. There was nothing new in it. Some of the arguments were ones I have some sympathy with as a protestant; others seemed to show a determined adherence to deliberately distorted interpretations. Put together the arguments simply reinforced prejudice and could not have been in greater contrast with the spirit of the worship which followed. It was my first experience of Westminster Abbey worship w...